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2nd
April , 2014
TOP Contents - Tailored for YOU
Latest News Headlines…
Scientists identify genes that could lead to tough, disease-
resistant rice
Drought may cut key farm exports from California
6Share on emailShare on print
U.S.D.A. certifies U.S. rice as non-transgenic
NFA sets pre-bid confab for rice importation
Cambodian rice exports fall in Q1
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- Apr 02
Paddy, maize are rabi season gainers in Andhra Pradesh
Thai court takes on new case as PM Yingluck's legal woes
mount
Stepped-up release pressures home rice traders
25% of paddy fields destroyed; No alternative but to import
rice
Rice gains steam on buying interest
Purdue professor will talk about science/society interactions
NACC wants 3 ministers to speak for PM
Gene discovery could yield gen-next 'super rice'
Telengana farmers losing interest in rice
Cambodian rice exports fall in Q1
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NEWS DETAILS:
Scientists identify genes that could lead to tough, disease-resistant rice Tue, 04/01/2014 - 3:28pm
Marcia Goodrich, Michigan Technological Univ.
As the Earth’s human population marches toward 9 billion, the need for hardy new varieties of grain crops has
never been greater.It won’t be enough to yield record harvests under perfect conditions. In an era of climate
change, pollution and the global spread of pathogens, these new grains must also be able to handle stress. Now,
researchers at Michigan Technological Univ. have identified a set of genes that could be key to the development
of the next generation of super rice.A meta-data analysis by biologist Ramakrishna Wusirika and PhD student
Rafi Shaik has uncovered more than 1,000 genes in rice that appear to play key roles in managing its response
to two different kinds of stress: biotic, generally caused by infectious organisms like bacteria; and abiotic,
caused by environmental agents, like nutrient deficiency, flood and salinity.
Traditionally, scientists have believed that different sets of genes regulated plants’ responses to biotic and
abiotic stress. However, Wusirika and Shaik discovered that 1,377 of the approximately 3,800 genes involved in
rice’s stress response played a role in both types stress. “These are the genes we think are involved in the cross
talk between biotic and abiotic stesses,” said Wusirika.About 70% of those “master” genes are co-expressive—
they turn on under both kinds of stress. Typically, the others turn on for biotic stress and turn off for abiotic
stress.The scientists looked at the genes’ response to five abiotic stresses—drought, heavy metal contamination,
salt, cold and nutrient deprivation—and five biotic stresses—bacteria, fungus, insect predation, weed
competition and nematodes. A total of 196 genes showed a wide range of expressions to these stresses.“The top
genes are likely candidates for developing a rice variety with broad stress-range tolerance,” Wusirika said.Next,
they would like to test their findings. “We want to do experimental analysis to see if five or 10 of the genes
work as predicted,” he said.
Source: Michigan Technological Univ.
Drought may cut key farm exports from California 6Share on emailShare on print
Issue Date: April 2, 2014 By Ching Lee
Water shortages are expected to reduce production of many of the state's top agricultural
exports, and marketers, analysts and commodity groups say it remains to be seen how this
will impact California's ability to supply key export markets—and hang on to them.The
outcome has implications throughout the California economy, said Josh Rolph, director of
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international trade for the California Farm Bureau Federation."Based on the severe water shortages expected in
Northern and Central California, it seems apparent there will be reduced production of a number of crops," he
said. "If farm exports decline as a result, that will affect jobs throughout rural areas, as well as at ports and other
urban workplaces.
"For products such as almonds, the state's No. 1 farm export, much will depend on what the actual size of the
crop will be this year, said Richard Waycott, president and CEO of the Almond Board of California. If yields
reach close to 2 billion pounds—similar to the last two years—then there should be enough to supply export
markets, he said."There may be some shortages on size or certain varieties perhaps, but it's just too early to
say," Waycott said.California remains the premier producer of almonds, supplying more than 80 percent of the
world supply, while countries such as Australia and Spain have comparatively small production.With more than
200,000 almond acres facing water shortfalls, Dave Baker, director of member relations for Blue Diamond
Growers, said there are definitely concerns about how the state's crop will fare. He noted growers have been
using more groundwater that has high salt and boron content. He said that could affect production later in the
year and prolong stress on the trees caused by water deficits, damaging them for two to three years. These
impacts could cut the state's crop by 200 million pounds, he added.Exports of California pistachios have seen
record highs in recent years and a light crop could thwart further market expansion, said Richard Matoian,
executive director of American Pistachio Growers, which represents production in California, Arizona and New
Mexico. He noted some 40 percent of California growers are in water districts facing "zero" water allocations
this year.
"I think the concern is we're potentially going to face a loss in momentum that we've seen over the last few
years of record shipments and record price returns to growers," he said.Matoian said while it's unclear how big
an impact the drought will have on the state's production, he's certain the crop will be smaller and supplies
tighter, leading to higher prices. He said it's unlikely competitors such as Iran could fill the gap created by a
shorter California crop, as "all pistachio production areas in the world" are experiencing water issues of their
own."No one else has the supply to be able to meet the worldwide demand, and there are no new production
areas," he said.The price of medium-grain rice has shot up in recent months due to tight world supplies and
announcement of water cutbacks in California, said Kirk Messick, senior vice president of Farmers' Rice
Cooperative. The state typically exports about 50 percent of its rice.Even with production cutbacks, there should
be enough rice in storage and in the new crop to supply the domestic market and the state's key export markets
in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, said Chris Crutchfield, president and CEO of American Commodity Co., a
rice handler and marketer based in Colusa County.
Crutchfield said more price-sensitive markets in the Middle East—which in recent years have purchased 20
percent of the state's crop—may import less California rice and turn more to Australia, Russia, India and
Vietnam.But Messick noted that Australia, a major exporter of medium-grain rice, has its own drought issues
and is facing a 20 percent to 30 percent lighter crop this year. Russia's crop also was off—by 40 percent,
Crutchfield said—while Egypt, formerly a top producer of medium-grain rice and a California competitor, has
reinstated a self-imposed export ban on rice.Other U.S. rice-producing states such as Arkansas and Louisiana
will probably double their acreage to take up the slack, selling to Middle Eastern markets in Libya and Turkey,
Messick said."We'll lose a certain percentage of consumers each time we have an event like this," he said.For
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the short term at least, California dairy farms should be able to produce enough milk to meet export demand,
said Michael Marsh, CEO of Western United Dairymen.
U.S. dairy exports reached an all-time high in 2013, helping to buoy prices for farmers, according to the U.S.
Dairy Export Council. About 40 percent of the nation's total dairy exports come from the Golden State,
according to the California Milk Advisory Board.Marsh said the drought has hit organic milk production
particularly hard due to poor pasture conditions and lack of available organic feed, but the state's overall milk
production is up. However, as producers work through their current hay inventories and look to restock, feed
supplies will be very scarce and expensive, he said. That will limit farmers' ability to increase production—and
may even lower it.Milk-producing states in the Midwest will make up some of the production and take some of
the market share that historically may have gone to California, Marsh added.After two record harvests, there is
currently plenty of wine to supply the market, said Gladys Horiuchi, spokeswoman for the Wine Institute in San
Francisco. While it's uncertain how far this inventory will go should there be a short harvest this fall, any
impacts are not immediate, she said.
(Ching Lee is an assistant editor of Ag Alert. She may be contacted at [email protected] .)
Permission for use is granted, however, credit must be made to the California Farm Bureau Federation when
reprinting this item.
U.S.D.A. certifies U.S. rice as non-transgenic 4/2/2014 - by Keith Nunes
Share This:
Search for similar articles by keyword: [Biotechnology]
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a one sentence statement on April 1 announcing
it has reinstated a no-genetic modification statement for use by rice exporters and others in the industry.“There
are no transgenic rice varieties for sale or in commercial production in the United States at this time,” the
U.S.D.A.’s Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration said.In August 2006, the U.S.D.A.
announced that a genetically modified variety of rice known as LibertyLink and developed by Bayer AG was
found in the U.S. long grain rice supply.
The announcement led to a decline in rice exports as such importers as the European Union ceased purchasing
U.S. rice. In July 2011 a settlement of approximately $750 million was reached between Bayer and rice farmers
who had sued the company for damages.“GIPSA’s decision to reinstate the assurance is a testament to years of
hard work and cooperation among all segments of the U.S. rice industry to remove the Liberty Link trait from
the U.S. rice supply and thereby meet consumer demands and regulatory requirements in many international
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markets,” said Al Montna, a California rice producer and former chairman of the USA Rice Federation, who led
the industry’s response to the presence of LibertyLink.
In response to the contamination, the U.S. industry adopted voluntary guidelines — called the Seed Plan — to
remove LibertyLink rice from the rice seed supply beginning in 2007.“While we can’t turn away from new
technologies, one of the lessons of the LibertyLink contamination is that we must continue to insist that there be
consumer acceptance and widespread global regulatory approval before new technologies are introduced into
the marketplace,” said Betsy Ward, president and chief executive officer of USA Rice.
NFA sets pre-bid confab for rice importation
By Czeriza Valencia (The Philippine Star) | Updated April 2, 2014 - 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines - A pre-bid
conference on April 3 has been set by the
National Food Authority for the
importation of 800,000 metric tons (MT)
of rice buffer stock for this year.The
actual bidding would be held on April
15.NFA spokesman Rex Estoperez said
the terms of reference for the importation
would be read out during the April 3 pre-
bid conference which would be held at 9
a.m. at the Social Hall of the Sugar
Regulatory Administration building in
Quezon City.
supplier for Manila’s rice buffer stock this year would be selected though an open bidding to be held at the NFA
headquarters in Quezon City.An open bidding scheme would allow countries and other private companies with
no existing rice supply agreement with the Philippines to vie for the supply of Manila’s buffer stock
requirement this year.Bidders must be able to supply long grain white rice that is well-milled and with 15
percent brokens, and should be able to deliver the volume in four tranches between April to August.
Only Vietnam and Cambodia currently have supply agreements with the Philippines as Thailand was not able to
renew its supply agreement with the country.Estoperez said that with the open bidding scheme in place,
Thailand would be able to participate in the bid without renewing its supply agreement.An open bidding would
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also enable the NFA to procure the buffer stock at the best price.The lean season for palay (unhusked rice) falls
between July to September when farmers produce less to avoid crop damage caused by typhoons that routinely
visit the country during this time.
Cambodian rice exports fall in Q1 Wed, 2 April 2014
May Kunmakara
As Thailand sells its rice reserves and reforms in Myanmar are rewarded with more access to markets abroad,
Cambodia’s total exports of milled rice are on the decline, falling more than 10 per cent in the first quarter of
this year compared with the same period in 2013, according to industry insiders.The Myanmar Rice Federation
said in March that the country, once a major rice exporter to the world before being hit with sanctions, is at a
turning point.Once barred from trade and isolated, Myanmar is benefiting from duty-free preferences enjoyed
by Cambodia and other emerging markets due to a broad range of political reforms passed since President Thein
Sein came to power in 2011.In the previous three to four years, the country has exported about a million tonnes
of rice.
That figure should double by 2020.Thailand is coming out of a failed rice-subsidy scheme that left the country
with more than 10 million tonnes of milled rice.At least one million tonnes have been sold since March,
according to industry publication Oryza, citing the US Department of Agriculture.Data from the Secretariat of
One Window Service for Rice Export Formality showed that Cambodia exported some 84,330 tonnes of rice
between January and March, down from 95,228 tonnes in the same period last year, an 11 per cent drop.Kim
Savuth, who runs his own rice exporting company, Khmer Food, while also serving as the president of the
Federation of Milled Rice Exporters of Cambodia, said there is nothing to fret over, since most of the decline
came last month.“We are not in the severe situation, as it just dropped in March,” he said.Ken Ratha,
spokesman for the Ministry of Commerce, said the ministry has set up a committee to establish a National Rice
Millers Federation to deal with issues like these.
“We do hope that after the establishment, it will be a big help for their concerns and to boost the export of
milled rice,” Ratha said.“It doesn’t mean that we do nothing now. All of the challenges have been taken into
account,” he added. “We are urging more investment in the rice sector. That will be the big help to boost the
industry to compete with others.”Savuth, from the Federation of Milled Rice Exporters of Cambodia, said that
in order to compete, the country should promote its recent brand victories, referring to a strain of Cambodian
rice winning the World’s Best Rice Award for the second year in a row.
Contact author: May Kunmakara
Nagpur Foodgrain Prices Open- Apr 02
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Wed Apr 2, 2014 4:37pm IST
Nagpur, Apr 2 (Reuters) - Gram and tuar prices in Nagpur Agriculture Produce and Marketing
Committee (APMC) firmed up again on increased buying support from local millers amid thin supply
from producing regions. Sharp rise in Madhya Pradesh pulses, weak overseas supply and reported
demand from South-based millers also boosted prices, according to sources.
* * * *
FOODGRAINS & PULSES
GRAM
* Gram mill quality recovered further in open market on good demand from local traders
amid arrival from producing regions.
TUAR
* Tuar varieties ruled steady in open market in absence of buyers amid ample supply
from producing regions.
* Moong and Udid varieties touched to a record high on increased seasonal demand from
local traders amid restricted supply from producing regions. Poor crop reports of
these commonly used commodities also activated stockists.
* In Akola, Tuar - 3,900-4,100, Tuar dal - 6,100-6,300, Udid at 6,100-6,500,
Udid Mogar (clean) - 7,200-7,700, Moong - 8,500-8,700, Moong Mogar
(clean) 9,800-10,500, Gram - 3,200-3,300, Gram Super best bold - 3,800-4,200
for 100 kg.
* Wheat, rice and other commodities remained steady in open market in thin trading
activity, according to sources.
Nagpur foodgrains APMC auction/open-market prices in rupees for 100 kg
FOODGRAINS Available prices Previous close
Gram Auction 2,300-2,900 2,180-2,840
Gram Pink Auction n.a. 2,100-2,600
Tuar Auction 4,300-4,400 4,240-4,380
Moong Auction n.a. 6,100-6,300
Udid Auction n.a. 4,300-4,500
Masoor Auction n.a. 2,600-2,800
Gram Super Best Bold 4,000-4,300 4,000-4,300
Gram Super Best n.a.
Gram Medium Best 3,600-3,800 3,600-3,800
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Gram Dal Medium n.a. n.a.
Gram Mill Quality 3,650-3,750 3,600-3,700
Desi gram Raw 2,850-2,950 2,850-2,950
Gram Filter new 3,300-3,600 3,300-3,600
Gram Kabuli 8,900-10,900 8,900-10,900
Gram Pink 7,900-8,300 7,900-8,300
Tuar Fataka Best 6,600-6,700 6,600-6,700
Tuar Fataka Medium 6,100-6,300 6,100-6,300
Tuar Dal Best Phod 6,000-6,100 6,000-6,100
Tuar Dal Medium phod 5,900-6,000 5,900-6,000
Tuar Gavarani 4,400-4,550 4,400-4,550
Tuar Karnataka 4,600-4,700 4,600-4,700
Tuar Black 7,700-7,800 7,700-7,800
Masoor dal best 6,100-6,200 6,100-6,200
Masoor dal medium 5,600-5,900 5,600-5,900
Masoor n.a. n.a.
Moong Mogar bold 10,500-10,800 10,000-10,500
Moong Mogar Medium best 9,800-10,200 9,500-9,800
Moong dal super best 9,200-9,500 8,800-9,000
Moong dal Chilka 8,500-8,700 8,200-8,400
Moong Mill quality n.a. n.a.
Moong Chamki best 8,700-9,600 8,400-9,200
Udid Mogar Super best (100 INR/KG) 7,500-7,800 7,400-7,800
Udid Mogar Medium (100 INR/KG) 5,800-6,600 5,700-6,400
Udid Dal Black (100 INR/KG) 5,000-5,300 4,800-5,000
Batri dal (100 INR/KG) 4,500-6,000 4,500-6,000
Lakhodi dal (100 INR/kg) 3,100-3,200 3,100-3,200
Watana Dal (100 INR/KG) 3,350-3,450 3,350-3,450
Watana White (100 INR/KG) 3,400-3,500 3,400-3,500
Watana Green Best (100 INR/KG) 4,800-5,100 4,800-5,100
Wheat 308 (100 INR/KG) 1,700-1,800 1,700-1,800
Wheat Mill quality(100 INR/KG) 1,850-1,900 1,850-1,900
Wheat Filter (100 INR/KG) 1,650-1,850 1,650-1,850
Wheat Lokwan best (100 INR/KG) 2,400-2,500 2,400-2,500
Wheat Lokwan medium (100 INR/KG) 1,900-2,100 2,050-2,200
Lokwan Hath Binar (100 INR/KG) n.a. n.a.
MP Sharbati Best (100 INR/KG) 3,000-3,600 3,000-3,600
MP Sharbati Medium (100 INR/KG) 2,400-2,900 2,400-2,900
Wheat 147 (100 INR/KG) 1,600-1,700 1,600-1,700
Wheat Best (100 INR/KG) 1,700-1,750 1,700-1,750
Rice BPT new(100 INR/KG) 2,700-2,900 2,700-2,900
Rice BPT old (100 INR/KG) 3,200-3,500 3,200-3,500
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Rice Parmal (100 INR/KG) 1,700-1,850 1,700-1,850
Rice Swarna old (100 INR/KG) 2,500-2,800 2,500-2,800
Rice Swarna new (100 INR/KG) 2,300-2,400 2,300-2,400
Rice HMT new (100 INR/KG) 3,800-4,100 3,800-4,100
Rice HMT old (100 INR/KG) 4,400-4,600 4,400-4,600
Rice HMT Shriram (100 INR/KG) 5,300-5,800 5,300-5,800
Rice Basmati best (100 INR/KG) 12,000-13,500 12,000-13,500
Rice Basmati Medium (100 INR/KG) 6,500-9,000 6,500-9,000
Rice Chinnor (100 INR/KG) 5,600-6,000 5,600-6,000
Rice Chinnor new (100 INR/KG) 5,100-5,500 5,100-5,500
Jowar Gavarani (100 INR/KG) 1,400-1,600 1,400-1,600
Jowar CH-5 (100 INR/KG) 1,700-1,800 1,700-1,800
WEATHER (NAGPUR)
Maximum temp. 39.7 degree Celsius (103.4 degree Fahrenheit), minimum temp.
21.2 degree Celsius (70.1 degree Fahrenheit)
Humidity: Highest - n.a., lowest - n.a.
Rainfall : nil
FORECAST: Mainly clear sky. Mainly clear sky. Maximum and Minimum temperature likely to be
around 40 and 22 degree Celsius respectively.
Note: n.a.--not available
(For oils, transport costs are excluded from plant delivery prices, but
included in market prices.)
Paddy, maize are rabi season gainers in Andhra Pradesh
KV KURMANATH
HYDERABAD, APRIL 2:
The rabi season in Andhra Pradesh ended with only paddy and maize topping the average cropped area.Other
major crops fared poorly and could result in lower production.Paddy coverage crossed the average acreage of
14.31 lakh hectares (lh) at 16.20 lh. Rains in the first week of this month damaged crops in Rayalaseema and
Telangana.
Corn is the champMaize (corn) is the real gainer with the area rising to 4.50 lh against the normal 3.36 lh.
It has emerged as an alternative to sugarcane in the coastal areas.With an assured market in the form of poultry
industry, maize turns out to be a bankable option for farmers. Bengal gram coverage was around the usual 6.14
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lh.Gains made in paddy and maize resulted in a marginal rise in the total cropped area of foodgrains.How this
will translate into production remains to be seen as the State witnessed dry spells in some places, while
unseasonal rain towards the end of the season also played spoilsport.
Telangana gains
Region-wise, the nine Telangana districts (excluding Hyderabad district) fared better with a 20 per cent jump in
the total acreage, while the residual Andhra Pradesh witnessed a drop.Against the average area of 12.83 lh,
farmers in the region cultivated on 15.35 lh.Nizamabad topped the list with the net sown area rising 50 per cent
at 2.54 lh against the average 1.70 lh.Farmers in residual Andhra Pradesh cultivated on 23.45 lh against the
average 26.36 lh.
(This article was published on April 2, 2014)
Thai court takes on new case as PM Yingluck's legal woes mount
BY AMY SAWITTA LEFEVRE
BANGKOK Wed Apr 2, 2014 6:23am EDT
1 OF 4. Thailand's Finance Ministry officers stand behind the
ministry's gate while anti-government protesters rally outside in
central Bangkok April 2, 2014. Gunmen opened fire on a group of
Thai anti-government protesters driving away from a Bangkok rally
on Tuesday, killing one, wounding four and raising tension in a
political crisis that has gripped the country for months.
CREDIT: REUTERS/CHAIWAT SUBPRASOM
(Reuters) - A Thai Court accepted a new case against Prime Minister
Yingluck Shinawatra on Wednesday over her removal of the security
chief three years ago, compounding her legal problems after months
of sometimes violent anti-government protests.Twenty-four people
have been killed in the crisis, including a protester shot in the head on
Tuesday after weeks of calm in the capital, Bangkok.Yingluck's
supporters plan mass rallies of their own this week to counter
attempts to remove her from office by activists determined to stamp
out the influence of her brother, ousted ex-premier Thaksin
Shinawatra, seen by many as the real power behind the
government.The Constitutional Court accepted a case brought by a
group of 27 senators who petitioned it to rule that her removal of
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National Security Chief Thawil Pliensree in 2011 violated the constitution. Their case is that the prime minister
abused her position by moving the security chief to an inactive post.Court spokesman Pimon Thampitakpong
said he could not yet say how long the case would last but said it bore similarities to a probe of former premier
Samak Sundaravej who was forced to step down in 2008.The Supreme Court ruled that Samak's appearances on
a television cooking show and his acceptance of payment for them was a clear case of conflict of interest."If she
(Yingluck) is found to have violated the constitution then she will no longer be prime minister," said Pimon,
adding that Yingluck would be notified of the case in writing and would have 15 days to mount a
defense.Yingluck's supporters have accused the Constitutional Court of bias in frequently ruling against the
government.
The court struck down a bill last year that would have made the Senate upper house a fully elected body and
quashed a costly infrastructure plan intended to buttress the economy.In another victory for the opposition, the
court on Wednesday threw out a petition by Labour Minister Chalerm Yoombamrung asking it to rule that the
protests aimed at bringing down the government violated the constitution.Yingluck faces separate charges of
negligence brought by the National Anti-Corruption Commission over a rice subsidy scheme that has run up
huge losses. Should it forward the case to the Senate for possible impeachment, she could be removed.That
would require the votes of three-fifths of the senators. Thailand's 150-seat Senate is made up of 77 elected
senators.
The other 73 are appointed and are largely seen as opponents of the government.Weekend Senate elections
suggest it will have a pro-government majority.Anti-government protesters are now banking on military or
judicial intervention.The military, which has staged numerous coups since Thailand became a constitutional
monarchy in 1932, overthrew Thaksin in 2006. It has stayed out of the fray this time.Army chief Prayuth Chan-
ocha, who is months away from retirement, has for months parried questions over possible military
intervention."If you were working in a company and didn't see eye to eye with the company's owner, would you
chase your boss out?" Prayuth asked reporters on Wednesday in a typically cryptic comment. "I will do as I am
told and I will not comment."Yingluck's "red shirt" supporters have called for a mass rally in Bangkok on
Saturday. More militant factions within her camp say they are gearing up for a fight if she is removed from
office.
Anti-government protesters first took to the streets to oppose an amnesty bill that critics said would have
permitted Yingluck's brother to return from self-exile. The bill was eventually rejected by the Senate, but
protests continued and new demands emerged.Thailand has really been in crisis since Thaksin was ousted in
2006. The conflict broadly pits Bangkok's middle class and conservative establishment against Yingluck and
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Thaksin's supporters in the north and northeast.(Additional reporting by Aukkarapon Niyomyat; Editing
by Nick Macfie)
Stepped-up release pressures home rice traders
PETCHANET PRATRUANGKRAI
THE NATION April 3, 2014 1:00 am
THE CARETAKER government's accelerated release of rice from its stockpiles has created difficulties for
domestic traders, which now have to be much more active in promoting sales amidst a combination of lower
market prices and weak consumer confidence in regard to rice quality.Somroek Tangpiroonthum, chief
executive officer and managing director of Thai Ha - the producer of packed rice under the Kaset brand -
yesterday said the government's pledging policy and its stepped-up release of stockpiled rice was having a
negative impact on domestic traders."The price of Thai rice, in particular in the domestic market, has dropped
continuously since last year. The price is expected to reach its lowest level this year, following a huge amount
of rice having been released onto the market during the year," he said.
The price of packed rice on the domestic market had dropped by 4-5 per cent in late February compared with
late last year, he added.The CEO said that as the government had become a major holder of rice stock, many
consumers were worried about its quality. As a packer, the company therefore needs to pursue a number of
strategies to promote confidence in the quality of rice and encourage consumers to buy it.One of these, he
explained, is to focus more on organic rice production and selling - encouraging farmers to grow more non-
chemical produce - and on specialty rice grains being supplied to the company.He also said the owner of the
Kaset brand would concentrate more on selling organic rice in light of the rising health-consciousness trend.
Moreover, organic rice and specialty rice grains have more added value.
Thai Ha is now also paying greater attention to rice consumption in the industrial - or non-household - sector,
that is, in hotels and restaurants.This year, the company plans to increase its sales to the industrial sector to
Bt360 million, which would account for 20 per cent of its revenue. Thai Ha will also promote more rice exports,
which currently contribute 54 per cent of sales.Somroek said that following the government's rice-release
programme, the price of Thai rice would reach its lowest level by the middle of the year. Once it has less
volume in its stockpiles, the price should start to increase early next year.However, he said he could not
estimate what sort of price would be seen when it did bottom out, as the government had not yet stated clearly
when it would stop releasing its rice.The company has, however, projected that Thailand should be able to
export about 8.5 million tonnes of rice this year, as the government needs to release a huge amount from the
stockpiles.
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25% of paddy fields destroyed; No alternative but to import rice WEDNESDAY, 02 APRIL 2014 - 19:52
Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Yapa
Abeywardena stated that due to the delay in
commencing Yala season, rice may need to be
imported in future.Despite farming on Yala
season has already begun, it has been hindered
by the lack of sufficient rains.Nearly 400
thousand hectare of paddy fields are farmed
during Yala Season.Agriculture Minister
further stated that about 25% of paddy fields
farmed during last Maha Season have been
destroyed due to the lack of rains.
The water level of main reservoirs has been
receding rapidly, therefore, the farmers are
provided with advice through District
Secretaries.However, the meteorological Department stated that they expecting rain in many parts of the island
during the weekend.
Rice gains steam on buying interest
OUR CORRESPONDENT
KARNAL, APRIL 2:
Prices of Pusa-1121 and Duplicate Basmati rice varieties improved on buying interest, while other aromatic and
non basmati varieties continued to rule flat amidst muted trade on Wednesday.
Pusa-1121 (steam) moved up by ₹200 and sold at ₹9,300-9,400 , while Pusa-1121 (sela) improved by ₹150
and quoted at ₹8,300. Pure Basmati (raw) quoted at ₹12,300. Duplicate basmati (steam) improved by ₹300 to
₹7,300.
Pusa-1121 brokens improved by ₹50-100. Pusa-1121 (second wand) was at ₹7,250, Tibar at ₹6,300 while
Dubar at ₹5,300 a quintal. In the non-basmati section, Sharbati (steam) sold at ₹4,850 while Sharbati (sela)
quoted at ₹4,300. Permal (raw) sold at ₹2,330, Permal (sela) at ₹2,350, PR-11 (sela) sold at ₹2,700 while PR-
11 (raw) at ₹2,600. PR14 (steam) sold at ₹2,950 a quintal.
(This article was published on April 2, 2014)
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Purdue professor will talk about science/society interactions
Sault Ste. Marie
Purdue University earth sciences professor Kenneth Ridgway will be at Lake
Superior State University on Friday, April 4, to present a talk on interactions
between science and society. The program is open to the public. Admission is
free.Ridgway’s program “Earth Science and Communities: Great Earthquakes
to Wild Rice,” begins at noon on Friday in room 207 of Crawford Hall. His
presentation will appeal to general audiences. “The connection between earth
science and communities seems obvious to most scientists, but is much less
clear to most communities,” Ridgway said. “In the first part of this talk, I will
explore the geologic setting, the infrastructural damage, and the impact on
communities of recent large earthquakes in Taiwan, Turkey, Haiti and Japan.
Decisions that communities and governments made about these types of
geologic hazards had a profound impact on human life and the built
environment.
“In addition, I will discuss how we at Purdue are building connections between the scientific community and
Native American communities. The strongest connections are developed when Native American students do
research on issues that are directly relevant to their tribal lands and communities. An understanding of earth
processes is critical in decision-making both at the global and local community levels.”Ridgway has been a
faculty member in the Dept. of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences at Purdue since 1992.Much of his
research is related to understanding the tectonic processes that occur along convergent plate boundaries. He has
active field projects in Alaska, Argentina, and Oman.He is the co-director of Purdue’s Sloan Indigenous
Graduate Program and is the recipient of the 2012 Geological Society of America Bromery Award, given to
those who have made significant contributions to research in the geological sciences, or those who have been
instrumental in opening the geoscience field to minorities.
He also received the 2012 Purdue Dreamer Award, given annually to an individual or organization within the
Purdue community whose contributions embody Dr. Martin Luther King’s vision of service to others and
furthers the university’s commitment to diversity.On the day before his public presentation, Ridgway will be
meeting with students during a noon-hour lunch on Thursday, April 3, at the LSSU Native American Center,
when he will discuss academic and project funding opportunities for Native American students who are earning
degrees in any of the sciences, math, technology, and/or engineering. Students interested in attending are
welcome to drop in, but it would be helpful to RSVP by contacting Stephanie Sabatine, [email protected] ,
(906) 635-6664.
NACC wants 3 ministers to speak for PM Defence team seeks additional witnesses
Published: 3 Apr 2014 at 00.53
Newspaper section: News
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News and R&D Section [email protected] Cell # 92 321 369 2874
The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) wants three cabinet ministers to testify in the rice-pledging
case before the long Songkran weekend starts in the middle of the month.The commission has called on
caretaker Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to instruct the three ministers to provide statements in her
defence.The prime minister’s critics accuse her of negligence for allowing irregularities in the rice scheme to
take place. They say the rice scheme is plagued by losses and corruption.The anti-graft body is investigating the
claims against Ms Yingluck, in her capacity as head of the National Rice Policy Committee, which oversees the
rice-pledging scheme.The commission wants Niwatthamrong Bunsongphaisan, caretaker deputy prime minister
and commerce minister; Kittiratt Na-Ranong, caretaker deputy prime minister and finance minister; and
Yanyong Phuangrach, caretaker deputy commerce minister to testify before Songkran begins on April 12,
NACC chairman Parnthep Klanarongran said yesterday.Mr Parthep also said the case against Ms Yingluck did
not present any problems for the NACC because it had based its investigation on facts.The commission is
examining Ms Yingluck’s statements submitted in writing. If it decides to indict her, she must relinquish her
prime ministerial duties immediately.
Commissioner Vicha Mahakhun said yesterday the cabinet ministers worked directly under the prime minister
and that it should not be difficult to have them testify soon.Mr Vicha said he had no idea when the NACC
would decide whether to indict Ms Yingluck.Mr Niwatthamrong, Mr Kittiratt and Mr Yanyong are among 11
people whom Ms Yingluck named as additional witnesses in the case. The commission limited the number of
witnesses to just three.Bancha Porameesanaporn, Ms Yingluck’s lawyer, said the NACC should allow more
witnesses because all had important evidence.He will ask the NACC to allow four more witnesses. They are
caretaker Labour Minister Chalerm Yubamrung, deputy police chief Pol Gen Worapong Chewpreecha, deputy
secretary-general to the prime minister Pol Maj Gen Thawat Boonfuang, and Federation of Accounting
Profession president Pichai Choonhawachira.Mr Chalerm says Ms Yingluck personally ordered him to look into
corruption allegations concerning the scheme, Mr Bancha said.Ms Yingluck also ordered Pol Maj Gen Thawat
to check rice stocks, which he found to be in good order.
He and Mr Pichai will dispute statements by Supa Piyajitti, head of a sub-committee looking into the rice
scheme accounts, that the rice policy had caused losses of over 200 billion baht. Since no rice stocks were lost,
the sub-committee could not have possibly calculated such losses, the lawyer claimed.Mr Chalerm said
yesterday that Ms Yingluck had done nothing wrong because her involvement was at the policy-making
level.Ruangkrai Leekitwattana, a Pheu Thai Party legal adviser, said the NACC must handle the case fairly
otherwise it would cause further political turmoil.He also demanded the NACC explain what should be done if
Ms Yingluck has to cease performing her duties if it decides to indict her. He said Ms Yingluck ceased being
premier when she dissolved the House on Dec 9 and should keep her caretaker role.
Gene discovery could yield gen-next 'super rice'
Last Updated: Wednesday, April 02, 2014, 14:49
Washington: Scientists, including an Indian-origin researcher, have identified a set of genes that could be key to
the development of the next generation of tough and disease-resistant 'super rice'. "As the Earth's human
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News and R&D Section [email protected] Cell # 92 321 369 2874
population marches towards 9 billion, the need for hardy new varieties of grain crops has never been greater,"
researchers said.
It won't be enough to yield record harvests under perfect conditions. In an era of climate change, pollution and
the global spread of pathogens, these new grains must also be able to handle stress, they said. Researchers at the
Michigan Technological University identified a set of genes that could be key to the development of the next
generation of super rice. Analysis by biologist Ramakrishna Wusirika and PhD student Rafi Shaik uncovered
more than 1,000 genes in rice that appear to play key roles in managing its response to two different kinds of
stress: biotic, caused by infectious organisms like bacteria and abiotic, caused by environmental agents, like
nutrient deficiency, flood and salinity.
Traditionally, scientists have believed that different sets of genes regulated plants' responses to biotic and
abiotic stress. However, Wusirika and Shaik discovered that 1,377 of the approximately 3,800 genes involved in
rice's stress response played a role in both types stress."These are the genes we think are involved in the cross
talk between biotic and abiotic stresses," said Wusirika. About 70 per cent of those "master" genes are co-
expressive - they turn on under both kinds of stress. Typically, the others turn on for biotic stress and turn off
for abiotic stress. Scientists looked at the genes' response to five abiotic stresses - drought, heavy metal
contamination, salt, cold and nutrient deprivation - and five biotic stresses - bacteria, fungus, insect predation,
weed competition and nematodes. A total of 196 genes showed a wide range of expressions to these stresses.
"The top genes are likely candidates for developing a rice variety with broad stress-range tolerance," Wusirika
said. The study was published in the journal Plant Physiology.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, April 02, 2014, 14:49
Telengana farmers losing interest in rice DC CORRESPONDENT | April 03, 2014, 04.04 am IST
Hyderabad: While earlier two crops were grown
along with a third crop of green vegetables at times,
the first two essentially being rice and maize — the
interest in rice is dwindling fast in districts where
farmers are dependent on bore-wells, mostly in
Telangana districts.However, even as some rice
cultivation areas might be lost to other crops,
scientists say that it will not affect the overall rice
production.
“Wherever there is less water supply, we suggest farmers to go for dry crops; but paddy has lesser risks and is
easy to cultivate and hence in case of adequate water supply, farmers still prefer paddy.In the last two years,
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there was more production of cotton due to reduced water supply. The overall production of paddy was not
affected and is not likely to be affected much as we have developed very high yielding varieties of rice, and
currently 70 per cent of the rice cultivation is under the high yielding varieties,” said principal scientist (Rice),
ANGRAU (Acharya NG Ranga Agricultural University), Dr Suryanarayana.
States: Karnataka
pic for representational purpose
Cambodian rice exports fall in Q1
Published: 2 Apr 2014 at 18.41
Online news:
Cambodia’s exports of milled rice fell more than 10% in the first
quarter of this year compared with the same period in 2013.A woman
pours rice after a rice-cleaning process in central Phnom Penh in this
file photo. (Photo by Reuters).The major reasons are Thailand's sale of
its rice reserves and Myanmar's increasingly open market, the Phnom
Penh Post reported on Wednesday, quoting industry insiders.Cambodia
exported 84,330 tonnes of rice from January to March, down from
95,228 tonnes in the same period last year, an 11% drop, according to
data from the Secretariat of One Window Service for Rice Export
Formality.Its Ministry of Commerce has set up a committee to
establish a National Rice Millers Federation, which is urging more investment in the rice sector to increase
competitiveness, the daily said.The country should also promote its famous strain which has won the World’s
Best Rice Award for the second year in a row, suggested an exporter.
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